Wichita eagle., 1887-03-18
EMMA ABBOTT.
A Brilliant Operate Event Last Night at the
Garfield.

It was large and brilliant audience that
last night assembled at the Garfield to greet
Americas most popular prinla dona. Miss
Emma Abbott It was an audience COM
posed of representative men of the city and
their ladies beautifully and elegantly dressed,
and had more the appearance of an as,embl-
age at an elite social gathering than at
either an operate or theatrical performance.
The hall was very prettily decorated in
honor of the occasion, and the acoustic
properties of the house proved to be perfect
a few minutes past the orchestra filed
into their places; handsome, stern looking
Italian Tomasi welded his baton and the
beautiful overture to Fiotow's Martha
swelled forth as an introduction to the grand
opera
The curtain arose and the bright, charm
ing little lady appears to win you from the
first and to retain your attention and sympa-
thy to the last. The sweetness. sympathy
and delicacy of her voice held her audience
enrapted in her every note; while her mar
velous and dazzling execution electrified and
astonished them. Until Emma Abbott sung
Martha and gave her world famous rendition
of the Last Reese Of Simmer"
one can form but an imperfect
idea Of the beauties Of Flotow's music. As
she sang it her audience was hushed into
silence by the wichery of the charm OF the
gifted singers art, but the silence was soon
broken by an ontburst ofapplause that shook
4 Il hn tSin
She responded and gained as great favor by
an aria from the pearl of Brazil"
Miss Abbott wore superb and elegant cos
tune while her display of diamonds was
regal. The toilette in the first act as well as
the hunting habit in the fourth, were of a
beauty that filled the ladies with delight.
Miss Lizzie Annandale, the glorious con-
traIto, made piquanr and saucy Nancy and
charmed all with her irresistible vocal and
histronic talent. Her solo in the fourth act,
"Why my soul art thou heavy with grief"
received an encore to which she most happily
responded.
Signor Montegritfo played the love sick
Lienel with a force and tenderness that
brought out all the beauties of his rare tenor
voice. There were few sweeter or more
ably rendered parts in the opera than the
solo $50 soon may follow" upon which he
was recalled.
Signor Pruette, the baritone, made de-
lightful feature OF the role of Plunkett His
magnificent voice, cultured methods, grace
and ease as an actor aroused the house to en-
thusiasm.
Mr.. Walter Allen as Tristan completed
cast that was as near perfect as ever opera
gathered.
What with the great cast, the grand or
chestra, powerful chorus and rich costuming
the performance was veritable triumph,
fame of Emma Abbott.
Last night Miss Abbott stated in a CONVEX
SatiOn that she was never more pleased with
a city than with Wichita She has long de-
sired to come to thriving western city with
its live, earnest, wide-awake citizens. The
curtain had no sooner risen than she felt
that she was in the presence of just such an
audience She threw her soul into the opera
and never sung it with more relish or
enthusiasm. The kind and generous recep-
ten accorded her she intends to reward by
her happiest and best effort. Besides. sho
added, with smile, feel that must have
some property in such charming place and
before leave the city I shall take with me
deeds for some Of Wichita landed pos
sessions.
Tonight one of the grandest Of oil operas,
Faust and Marguerite" by the great COM
poser, Gounod, will besung with Miss Abbott
as Marguerite; Miss Anpapdale, Pruette,
Michelena the Spanish tenor, and Broderick
(the great basso) in the cast. This will no
doubt be the most superb performance OF
the engagement.
At the Saturday matinee will be given the
charming opera of the Bohemian Girl"
and on Saturday night Miss Abbott in her
best role, "Linda," will make her farewell
appearance.